Since opening their doors in 1974, the Birthing Center at OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg has welcomed thousands of babies into the world. However, with fewer area hospitals providing delivery services, OSF St. Mary outgrew their space.
“The time was right, and we had a great opportunity to expand and update our birthing center,” said Carolyn Tomeo, RN, director of the OSF St. Mary Birthing Center. “Families have come to expect excellent medical care, and now the new Family Birthing Center will also give them a wonderful atmosphere.”
The new Birthing Center provides a warm, comfortable, home-like setting for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum, combining a relaxing environment with compassionate care.
“We transformed our space to accommodate families better and provide them with the very best for their family,” Tomeo said. “We want them to feel at home and make their childbirth experience one of the most memorable moments of their life.”
The newly remodeled Birthing Center offers a modern, bright, home-like space with the latest in delivery equipment that includes:
- C-Section suite
- Nursery
- Spacious and welcoming birthing suites that allow mom to labor, deliver and recover in the same suite with baby, with room for the family to visit and bond with their new bundle of joy.
- Triage space
Support during and after delivery
However, it’s more than just the facility. The birthing team at OSF St. Mary consists of cross-trained nurses who accompany mom and their babies through pre- and post-natal care to promote an intimate and comfortable experience, providing a safer environment for everyone.
The birthing team at OSF St. Mary offers midwife services that promote a more natural labor and delivery process and are instrumental in lowering cesarean rates. Also, certified lactation consultants provide breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies successfully. Consultations, with certified car seat specialist, are available to ensure your infant is secured correctly for the ride home.
“Whether you are having your first child or another addition to your family, birth is an event that you and your family will cherish forever,” Tomeo said.
Advice for mom
Preparing for the big day can be a little overwhelming. Across the Ministry, our OSF HealthCare birthing team members often get asked by new moms – and experienced moms – about what to bring to the hospital for themselves and their baby. We offer the following advice on what to bring and what not to bring:
For mom
- Bathrobe
- List of current medications
- Personal items such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, case and solution, phone, camera, laptop and chargers
- Money or debit card for your support person’s meals and snacks
- Breastfeeding bra or quality bra if bottle feeding and nursing pads – whether you plan to nurse, you’ll appreciate the support and leak protection
- Comfortable going-home clothes and flat shoes
- Insurance information and driver’s license
- Two to three pairs of warm, non-skid socks for walking before and after labor
- Toiletries and personal items – hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, makeup, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and lip balm (remember, travel-sized products are your friends)
- Headband or ponytail holder (avoid clips as they may not be comfortable)
- Bag packed with a change of clothes and essential hygiene products for your support person
For baby
- Car seat carrier (remember to familiarize yourself with your car seat before coming to the hospital)
- Outfit for pictures and going home
- We provide diapers, baby bath soap and lotion
- Baby book – we will be glad to take your infant’s footprints for your book
- Blankets and outdoor gear for the ride home as seasonally appropriate (remember, babies are extra sensitive to cold)
- Nursing pillow
Leave it at home
- Medications, unless instructed by your health care provider to bring
- We cannot be responsible for personal property; please do not bring large amounts of money, jewelry, or other valuables.
- Stopwatch (your nurse or a monitor will take care of timing contractions)
To learn more about the Birthing Center at OSF St. Mary or to take a tour, call (309) 344-9456.
Last Updated: January 26, 2022